Fair Trade

Fair Trade is impressively growing worldwide and thus proving that consumers are interested to buy food and manufactured goods that have been produced and traded observing social, environmental and economic standards. Farmers and producers in the South are eager to participate in this success story and to market their products at the more just conditions of Fair Trade. For that purpose, some of them have to be capacitated to fulfil the quality expectations of export markets. Simultaneously, Fair Trade markets in the North have to be further expanded to provide more producers in the South with the opportunity to obtain long-term supply contracts at fair conditions.

As non-profit consultancy firm, FAKT provides both advice for partner organisations in the South, as well as marketing support and educational work in the North. Good contacts to stakeholders of Fair Trade in many countries enrich our wide spectrum of consultancy services from one source:

Quality management, product development
If they want to succeed on international and regional markets, partners of Fair Trade need to develop systems how to achieve and sustain a legally mandatory quality which is also in accordance with consumer expectations. Since its inception, FAKT has advised numerous Fair Trade producers in designing and implementing quality management systems and in developing new products, specifically in the food sector.

Business Development Services
FAKT is experienced in the promotion of small businesses. This includes consultancy support for crafts associations, producer networks and related support organisations. The compilation of sector and market studies and capacity building for regional intermediate organisations and service providers add to our reference list.

Marketing, public relations, campaigns
The social and environmental qualities of a Fair Trade product are not always obvious at first sight or tasting. Even more than with conventional products, a specific communication strategy will determine consumer interest. FAKT is experienced in planning and implementing campaigns which communicate Fair Trade issues to specific target groups.

Impact assessment
With increasing competition among social and environmental labels, Fair Trade and development organisations want to trace and publish the impact which Fair Trade relationships has on the lives of poor producers and their families. FAKT is experienced in both impact assessment and impact monitoring of Fair Trade partnerships.